Though they’re rock at heart, the thing that really sets this group out from the crowd is the dash of country and jazz in their songs. From a harmonica here to a saxophone there, and just when you think you’ve grown comfortable with who CAU really are, they toss you out on your ear with “The Headless Song” and completely change it up. … read more
Local Reviews: Code Hero
After listening to this beautifully crafted EP, the first thing I thought was, “Why do these guys have to live in Utah County and not right here in SLC?” I was immediately checking their Myspace to see if there were any upcoming shows in SLC, because if there were, I was going to be there. I had to see them live and witness these tunes for myself. Unfortunately, I had no such luck in spotting an SLC play anytime soon. … read more
Local Reviews: Dead Horse Point
Dead Horse Point will no longer be famous for being a state park in the desert of Moab. Instead when you hear those three words, you will automatically think of the mysterious quartet of men. Although fairly new, they are already making big waves in the local music scene along with similar artists like Band of Annuals and The Devil Whale. … read more
Local Reviews: Deadlip
This music is hardcore aggression and angst with just the right elements of grunge to mix it up into an entirely different concoction. It’s like the gnarliest drink you have ever had that made you feel so good. … read more
Local Reviews: Dulcesky
If I were ever given the chance to make love to a local record, this would probably be it. And I don’t mean “get sloppy with a lady while a record is spinning;” I literally mean I would fuck this record. … read more
Local Reviews: Krem
Where the hell did this CD come from? Has there been a super producer hiding under the informal deck of Salt Lake City Hip Hop who is just now choosing to present himself? Has he been plotting and producing with intentions to dominate? If the answer is “Yes”, I wouldn’t be surprised. … read more
Local Reviews: Michael Biggs/Matthew Munn
Improvised music is a delicate act. You must have the right balance of ideas, skills, and genuinely powerful results lest you come off as too academic or too amateurish. This collection of improvised pieces by Michael Biggs and Matthew Munn, members of the Davis County A. Star music/art/etc. collective left me screaming “quality control” at the top of my lungs. … read more
Local Reviews: Misty Murphy
Being a huge Darling Violetta fan, I fell for this album from the second I started listening. Very much a black pop album, you get hints of sitar and heavy-handed piano accompaniment that fully play up the otherworldly sound of Murphy’s voice. … read more
Local Reviews: Nolens Volens & NJ Foster
Nick “is that a Max/MSP patch?” and Andrew “I record everything in the red” Glassett is the creative duo behind this release, a tour du musique electronique, Pierre Schaeffer to Klaxons. … read more
Local Reviews: Paper Cranes
I admit to not having heard the source material for this collection of remixes, but I gather from a 2006 (yes, this is two years old, apparently the A. Star PR machine is a little rusty) SLUG review that it’s noisy dance-rock a la early Liars. … read more
Local Reviews: Patter Stats
From the sound of it, this is the sort of band you have to see live to get a good feel for them, because it takes some effort to get over the “dude-in-a-basement” quality level of recording here before you can really get into this album. … read more
Local Reviews: Separation of Self
Separation of Self fit right in with the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, a scene that is huge not only in the U.S. but all over the world. Resolve is one of those albums that like the style or not you cannot deny that the band is extremely good at what they do. At first I was turned off by the style of the band, but now it’s caught on in my head and I find myself singing along to some of the ultra-catchy choruses. … read more
